It’s International Literacy Day and 250 million kids can’t read this.

Question:How would your life be different if you were illiterate?

Wait. Stop. Think about it.

You probably wouldn’t be able to do your job. Good luck following tonight’s dinner recipe. Forget about that email you need to send your mom about rescheduling your coffee date. No more bedtime stories.

Your life would be totally different. You’d be a different person, right?

This post isn’t about a guilt trip. We don’t want to get you down. It’s just nice to take a moment to reflect, to appreciate how reading and writing has shaped you into the person you are and shaped the life you live.

Illiteracy is a bigger issue than a lack of reading skills. It is a predictor of poverty, illness, and disempowerment. If all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty. This is equal to a 12% cut in global poverty.